Advances in the science of the human gene and its application to medical care are the breaking wave of much of medicine. In its most basic definition, genomics seeks to find the relationship between particular genes or groups of genes and the functions of cells and organs in health and disease.
Among the nation’s trailblazers in genomics research and application is the McCormick Genomic and Proteomic Center (MGPC) at The George Washington University, one of the few centers in the world to focus on cardiovascular genomic research. This research will enable doctors to profile an individual’s genetic make up and predict whether they are at risk for cardiovascular disease and what treatment will work best. By identifying the genes that can cause and cure heart disease, researchers hold in their hands the potential for personalized medicine.